Today David Beckham, Inter Miami co-owner, is celebrating his 45th birthday. To honor him on this special day, we present to you 10 memorable moments from his illustrious career. Being a football legend who’s had an enormous impact on the game worldwide it’s proved impossible to list all of his achievements and defining moments; we’ve compiled a number of milestones in his career dating back to his days as a youth player all the way up to his retirement and later on being part of Inter Miami’s ownership group.
Youth career and professional debut: David Beckham was a Manchester United youth player from 1991-1993, being key in winning the FA Youth Cup in 1992 alongside a talented group of players which included the likes of Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes. He made his professional for the club on September 23, 1992, in a League Cup match against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Goal from halfway line against Wimbledon on August 17, 1996: First matchday of the 1996-1997 Premier League season. Manchester United were up 2-0 at Selhurst Park when a young David Beckham unleashed a precise right-footed strike from past the halfway line to put United up 3-0 and announce himself to the world as a soon to be household name.
England National Team debut: At the of 21 Beckham made his debut for the Three Lions on September 1, 1996, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0-3 away victory in a World Cup qualifying match against Moldova.
Winning the treble in the 1998-1999 season: It was a historic year for Beckham and Manchester United, as the team conquered the treble after winning the Premier League, FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League in what’s considered as the most successful season in club history. Individually, he scored nine goals and dished out 17 assists in all competitions and was named as UEFA Club Footballer of the Year.
Free-kick goal against Greece on October 6, 2001: In England’s final qualifying match for the 2002 World Cup playing away against Greece, he scored a marvelous free-kick in the dying moments to tie the game 2-2 and grant them the point they needed to qualify for the competition.
Transfer to Real Madrid: In the summer of 2003, Beckham joined Real Madrid’s star-studded “Galacticos” side for a fee of around $41.25 million. During his time at the Spanish capital with the club he won the Spanish Super Cup in 2003 and the La Liga title in the 2006-2007 season.
Transfer to MLS: Beckham joined MLS side LA Galaxy via a free transfer in 2007. As a Galaxy player, he won two MLS Cups (2011 and 2012) and two Supporters’ Shields (2010 and 2011) while playing a key role in the league’s increasing exposure and overall growth and development.
Final match for England: On October 14, 2009, he represented his country for the 115th and last time in a 3-0 win for the Three Lions in a World Cup Qualifying match against Belarus. Beckham played in three World Cups (1998, 2002 and 2006) and two European Championships (2000 and 2004) and served as team captain from 2000 to 2006 during his international career.
Joining PSG: On January 31, 2013, Beckham signed a five-month deal with Paris Saint Germain, donating all of his wages to a children’s charity during his time with the team. He went on to make 10 league appearances, providing two assists and winning the Ligue 1 title, before retiring as a footballer at the club.
Inter Miami CF ownership: With Beckham as a co-owner, Inter Miami was officially launched as Major League Soccer’s 25th Club on January 18, 2018. Inter Miami eventually went on to make the Club’s historic MLS debut in an away match against LAFC on March 1, 2020.
